RELIGION CULTURAL IDENTITY

IS RELIGION AN IMPORTANT PART OF CULTURAL IDENTITY?

Cultural Identity is an individuals background  and also how that individual identifies him or herself in a global cultural context. A person's culture is usually defined by where they are from, what language they speak, and their religion. Usually you eat food according to your culture, and your traditions are according to your religion. For example, I am a christian so therefore I celebrate Easter, and Christmas. while another individual who is Muslim would celebrate Eid or Ramadan. These cultural distinction is what creates an individuals or a groups identity. Take the Muslim states as an example. Their daily lives are circumscribed by religious doctrine; their schooling, their clothing, even what they eat and how they play are strongly influenced by the constraints their religion places on their lives. For most westerners, this kind of control and way of life is foreign, but for them it is so entrenched that it is seldom questioned. For many westerners, me included, religious identity is a strong part of cultural and family identity, though that might not be immediately evident when you look at me. I follow a set of rules regarding health and behavior that is outlined by my christian religion, this factor  impacts the way i act towards others. Why? Because growing up my parents where highly infringed in there religious beliefs and these beliefs were transmitted to me. The concept of Transient social transfer is very evident, the way i act and the things i do are more or less due to the transfer of religious/cultural knowledge.